Parents who
encourage and model positive opinions about education can teach kids to manage
school stress and enjoy the experience.

As curriculum
requirements continue to increase in all levels of education, students are
experiencing considerable amounts of school stress. Most of this
stress is caused by having too much homework. Some of it may be attributable to
a lack of organizational skills or the cognitive maturity to learn new and
difficult concepts, causing the student to feel overwhelmed. Some students may
not feel supported by the teacher or their parents. They may feel inadequate
socially or ashamed and can't ask for help.

Whatever the
reasons, school stress can lead to a general feeling of apathy
toward school and anything associated with it. When a student hates school
enough to not want to go anymore, parents will have a real challenge
encouraging that student to stick with it. Parents need to take on a
proactive approach of instilling a positive attitude in their children
about school, before it's too late.

Use Words That
Project a Positive Attitude

Education is vital
to the development of every child. Its importance cannot be underrated. When
referring to school, its administration or teachers, use positive language.
When parents show respect toward those in the teaching profession they teach
about the value of educators to their children. Remembering to thank teachers for
their contribution to a child's education demonstrates a positive attitude
about school and learning. Even when parents disagree with a teacher or school
administrator, they should always use positive and respectful communication
techniques to facilitate cooperation and resolution to a problem.

Take an Active
Interest in the School

Parents can take an
active interest in their child's school by first developing a working
relationship with the child's teacher. The child feels supported through
such relationships, which helps manage school stress. If a child knows that
there is a team approach to his/her learning curriculum, he/she will feel less
overwhelmed about learning challenging concepts.

Parents can further
participate in the school community by joining the PTA, volunteering in the
classroom or library or by donating their time to fundraising campaigns.

Inform Children of
Expectations

Younger children
should be introduced to the school environment in a visual way. Making
introductions with teachers and the classroom milieu prior to the commencement
of school will give children a sense of familiarity when they do start. Older
children need to understand what they can expect from school rules and class
instruction. They need to understand how they will be graded and the degree of
effort they need to put forth to succeed. Parents also need to communicate
their expectations for each of their children and base those on each the
child's unique capabilities. When students understand what is expected from
them they are more able to concentrate their efforts toward a known goal.

Model the
Importance of Homework and Homework Routines

Parents who support
the classroom's learning environment at home help students learn and expand
their knowledge. It's essential that homework routines be
established so as to teach organization, time management and problem solving
skills. Solid homework strategies will also help students manage school stress,
especially for those who experience anxiety in response to having to write a
test or complete an assignment. Homework routines combat test anxiety by
giving students confidence in their knowledge of test material. If the stress
of homework and writing tests are managed effectively, students are less apt to
have bad feelings about school.

Children who are
taught respect for education and are supported in their efforts to succeed feel
better about their school experience than children who are left to struggle on
their own without parental involvement. When children are exposed to positive
language about school and education and see their parents take an active
interest in their school community, they will learn to appreciate school by that
example. It's not to say that they will never have times of disliking school
when its demands feel too much, but they will continue to have enough respect
for the value of education to not give up on it.

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This blog is dedicated to providing insights for parenting babies, toddlers, teens, and young adults. We attempt to integrate both research and experience-based information into our posts. This blog is written for all parents, although some posts may reflect the values of the authors. We invite all to comment and become involved in the discussions about our posts.